The Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Pat Murphy, a former publisher of The Arizona Republic and The Phoenix Gazette, has died at the age of 82.

Murphy ran both newspapers from 1986 to 1989.

The Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/qaqVan ) reports Murphy died Saturday in Idaho from complications from cancer surgery.

Murphy joined The Republic in 1972 to work on the editorial pages. In 1985, he became a political columnist whose work appeared in the news pages.

He was appointed publisher in March 1986, after it was revealed that his predecessor, Darrow "Duke" Tully, had fabricated his military record.

Murphy resigned in August 1989.